Introducing the Lamy Safari 2018 All Black Special Edition

by Tom OddoMay 14, 2018

Few new pen releases command the attention of the entire world community of writers, pen enthusiasts, and collectors. The yearly Lamy Safari special edition release is one of those events that quickly becomes the hot topic of online forums, pen meetups, and social media.

In the video below, we're pleased to formally introduce you to the Lamy Safari special edition for 2018 - the wildest color that Lamy has ever introduced in their yearly limited piece - BLACK. ALL Black.

The Special Edition has a colorful past, including such vibrant releases as:

While pen enthusiasts and Lamy collectors were eager to roll out the red carpet for a colorful 2018 Safari, the announcement of "All Black" disappointed some. However, that doesn't appear to slow anyone down in snapping up these pens as soon as they were released in April.

All Black is stealthy. The body and cap have a textured matte finish similar to the Petrol, Dark Lilac, and Charcoal, which is also referred to as Umbra outside of the USA. The appearance is quite close to the Charcoal but paired up against one another, you can see there is a considerable difference. The All Black color is deeper, richer, and blacker than the Charcoal. The nib and clip are the same as the other black trim pens.

You might be surprised to hear that the main difference between the Charcoal and All Black isn't visible. The Charcoal has been an everyday staple of the Safari line for well over a decade. The All Black, on the other hand, is a special edition for only 2018. As with other special editions Lamy introduced, once it's gone, it's gone! That would be the reason why, five years from now, a new All Black in the original box will be selling for double the retail price on eBay.

As we've seen with the demand for Dark Lilac and Petrol, new collectors are eager to find older editions that have been discontinued. Will All Black go "in the black" and climb up in value over time? Let us know what you think in the comments.

If you prefer the sleek look of a glossy black, the regular edition L19BK with the silver clip & nib is an everyday favorite. It is fitted with the same LZ50 stainless steel nib, only the All Black is black-plated.

Writing with the Lamy Safari All Black is the same, no-fuss quality that you would expect from the stalwart Safari line. The contoured grip section provides a secure perch for your fingers. The stainless steel nib drives around the page with great control and flow. The black-plating on the nib bears no influence on the reliable writing quality of this nib.

Regardless if you're looking to purchase the All Black as a collectible or a daily writer, this Lamy special eedition fills both needs in one stealthy writing instrument. Click-top ballpoint pen and capped rollerball pen modes are also available to complete the collection. As opposed to the previous Dark Lilac & Petrol releases, there is no accompanying special edition ink that matches this pen. It's black, so you can always match it with the everyday Lamy black ink in either LT10 cartridge or LT52 bottled ink form.

Let us know what you think of this 2018 special edition in the comments below. Thank you for reading!